Doorstop



MarCh 8, 1955 H. T. oPLAND ETAL DOORSTOP F'iled Nov. 25, 1953 @fig/5 fusse .5o/@66er 15% www HTTOQNEU United States Patent O DOORSTOP Herman T. Opland, Minneapolis, and Russell L. Sotebeer, Edina, Minn.

Application November 25, 1953, Serial No. 394,266

7 Claims. (Cl. 1683) This invention relates to an improvement in a door stop for use in connection with doors to prevent undue shocks occasioned by the door when swinging under the force of its spring to a closed position.

The door stop of this invention comprises a plate member secured within a door jamb upon which is carried a pivot means with a resilient buffer bar pivotally mounted on the pivot means. A member provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface is mounted inside the screen door and the member is in alignment with the resilient buffer bar when it is in its operative or substantially horizontal position with respect to the door jamb. The member on the screen door engages the resilient bar upon the door closing and the bar thereby absorbing the thrust of the closing door. The door rebounds at least once or several times from the resilient bar depending on the weight of the door and the strength of the spring employed for closing the door, and then moves quietly to closed position. As the door moves quietly to closed position the resilient bar is pivoted upwardly on the inclined surface of the member on the door. The member on the door pivots the resilient bar to a sufficient angle above its substantially horizontal operative position so that the resilient bar automatically moves to its operative or horizontal position upon the door being moved to open position.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a door stop which incorporates mechanism for absorbing the force of a closing door, to cushion the same and which will permit the noiseless closing thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a door stop for use in connection with a screen door, mechanism which quickly absorbs the force of a closing door and permits a quick and noiseless closing of the door.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide y in a door stop for use in connection with a screen door which incorporates mechanism whereby the door stop is automatically moved to its operative position when the door is moved to open position.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention comprises additional novel details of construction and operation hereinafter fully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of a hinged screen door partly in open position with respect to the door jamb, disclosing my novel door stop means mounted on the door and door jamb.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure l, the parts being enlarged, disclosing the buffer bar of the door stop engaging a member on the door.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the door closed with respect to the door jamb, and the buffer bar in position to be automatically moved to operative position upon the door being opened.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified member on the door for cooperating with the buffer bar of the door stopper.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of door stop, disclosing its buffer bar in operative position, parts being broken away.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the buffer bar of the modified door stop of Figure 5, the bar being shown broken away.

2,703,427 Patented Mar. 8, 1955 Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 is a screen door mounted by hinges to the frame of a door which is normally moved to its closed position with respect to a door jamb 12 by the action of spring 14.

The door stop means is indicated by the numeral 20 and comprises a plate or housing member 22 secured to the door jamb 12 by means of screws 24. The hous ing 22 consists of a perpendicularly extending side portion 26 which abuts the face of the door jamb 12. An end wall 28 extends outwardly from the side 26 and is provided with bent portions 29 and 31 at its top and bottom edges respectively. A side wall 30 extends` from the end wall 28 toward the front of the housing 22.

An elongated resilient buffer-bar or cushion member 34 preferably made of rubber composition is pivotally carried on the plate or housing 22 by means of a screw 36. A sleeve or eyelet 38 is mounted in a passage formed adjacent the rear end of the buffer bar 34. The screw 36 is inserted in an aperture in side 30 of plate 22 extending through the sleeve 38 in the bar 34. The screw 36 passes through an aperture in side 26 of plate 22 and into the door jamb 12. The sleeve 38 acts as a bearing for the pivot screw 36 and also prevents wear of the buffer bar 34. The rear end of the bar 34 is tapered outwardly as at 42 for engaging the edge of the bent portion 31 of the end wall 28 of the plate member 22 when the bar 34 is in the horizontal position disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing thus always positioning the bar in its proper operative position. The front end of the bar 34 is substantially perpendicular to its top and bottom portions.

A metal member 46 is secured by screws 48 to the frame of the screen door 10 in alignment with the outer end of the bar 34 when it is in its substantially horizontal or operative position, see Figure 2 of the drawing. The member 46 comprises an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface 50. A central depending elevated tongue 51 is formed on the surface 5'0. An arm 52 extends inwardly toward the door 10 and is provided with a depending flange S4. The arm 52 spaces the surface 50 from the door 10, and the surface 50 is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the front end of the bar 34. An upturned flange 56 at the upper end of the surface 50 provides means by which the member 46 is secured to the frame of door 10.

In the operation of the door stopper 20 to prevent accidental or noisy closing of the screen door 10, the resilient elongated bar 34 is pivoted upwardly to lie on the surface 50 of member 46 on door 10 when the door 10 is in closed position, see Figure 3 of the drawing, and the bar 34 is tilted at approximately 45 degrees above its substantially horizontal position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing when in such position.

If the screen door 10 is moved to open position, then the b'ar 34 will automatically move to the position shown in Figure 2. The bar 34 is now tilted slightly downwardly below the horizontal position at its outer end. When the door 10 swings toward its closed position with respect to the door jamb 12, the lower portion of the tongue 51 on surface 50 of member 46 will strike the outer end of the resilient bar 34 with considerable force. The bar 34 upon engaging the tongue S1 on surface 50, pushes the tongue S1 into the surface 50 and the bar 34 then engages the portions of the surface 50 abutting the edges of the tongue 51. The downwardly tilted resilient bar 34 tends to bind itself with the surface 50 of member 46 and the bar 34 absorbs much more of the thrust of the door 10 than if the bar 34 were either 1n a horizontal position or tilted upwardly. Soas a consequence the door 10 rebounds less than doors equipped with many other types of door Stoppers and will therefore close much quicker than doors provided with different type of door-checks. The door 10 may rebound once or twice after initially engaging the bar 34 and then the member 46 abuts the outer end of the bar 34 as shown in Figure 2, then the bar 34 gradually moves upwardly on the inclined surface 50 of member 46 until the bar 34 is in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings when the door is completely closed. After the thrust of the closing door 10 has been absorbed by the resilient buffer bar 34, the resilient elevated depending metal tongue 51 of member 50 tends to move outwardly of the surface 50 to its original elevated position relatively to surface 50 and thus aids in moving the buier bar 34 upwardly on the inclined surface 50 to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The door 10 equipped with this stop means closes quickly and quietly.

If the buffer bar 34 should be accidentally tilted backwardly in the housing 22, it would engage the bent portion 29 of the end wall 28 and the buffer bar 34 would then be automatically moved to either the position shown in Figure 3 if the door were in closed position or moved to the position shown in Figure 2 if the door were in open position thus always insuring that the buffer bar 34 will be in either position for operation or in a location where it can be automatically actuated to its operative position.

In Figure 4 is shown a modified member 60 for the door 10. Member 60 comprises a depending arm 62 provided with a slot 64 and screws 66 secure the member 60 to the frame of door 10. An angular portion 68 similar to arm 52 of member 46 spaces surface 70 similar in construction to surface 50 of member 46 from the door 10. The member 60 can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly on the door 10 by means of the slot 64. When the member 60 can be adjusted it is possible to always maintain the member 60 in proper operative position with respect to the bar 34.

The time for closing the door may be varied by altering the angle of the bar 34 with respect to the surface 50 of member 46 or by adjusting the position of the surface 50 of member 46 relative to the bar 34 when in its horizontal position.

In Figures and 6 of the drawing is shown a modified door stop means 80. The member 82 is similar to member 46 and is provided with an inclined surface 84. Housing 90 is similar in construction to housing 22. Perpendicular side 91 is fastened by screws 92 to jamb 12. End wall 94 and side 96 are similar in construction to end wall 28 and side 30 of housing 22. Buffer bar 100 is provided with a lateral slot 102 in its front end in which is mounted a piece of nylon thread 104. The outer side of the nylon thread projects slightly beyond the front end of the buffer bar 100.

When the temperature is relatively low as at night, the rubber bar 100 and the surface 84 of the metal member 82 tend to bind together very tightly so that the door closes too slowly, The use of the nylon thread 104 lessens the binding effect between the metal surface 84 and the rubber bar 100 which permits the A bar 100 to be pivoted upwardly faster thus permitting the door 10 to close sooner.

Having described our invention reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

We claim:

l. In combination a door stopper comprising a housing member secured within a door jamb, a pivot means carried by the housing, an engaging member pivotally mounted on the pivot means and adapted to extend substantially laterally and horizontally with respect to the door jamb and outwardly of said jamb, and a member mounted on the inside of a door in alignment with the horizontally extending engaging member, the engaging member absorbing the thrust of the closing door upon the member on the door engaging the engaging member, then the member on the closing door pivoting the engaging member upwardly within the door jamb thus permitting the said door to quietly close, the said member on the inside of the door formed with an upwardly and inwardly sloping surface whereby the engaging member can move upwardly on the member on the inside of the door.

2. In combination a door stopper comprising a plate member secured within a door jamb, a pivot means carried by the plate, a resilient bar pivotally mounted on the pivot means and adapted to extend substantially laterally and horizontally with respect to the door jamb and outwardly of said jamb, and a member mounted on the inside of a door in alignment with the horizontally extending resilient bar, the resilient bar absorbing the thrust of the closing door upon the member on the door engaging the resilient bar, then the member on the closing door pivoting the resilient bar upwardly within the door jamb thus permitting the said door to close quietly, the said member on the inside Of Ill@ GOOI formed with an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface whereby the resilient bar can move upwardly on the member on the inside of the door.

3. In combination a door stopper comprising a housing member secured within a door jamb, a pivot means carried by the housing, an engaging member pivotally mounted on the pivot means and adapted to extend substantially laterally and horizontally with respect to the door jamb and outwardly of said jamb, and a member mounted on the inside of a door in alignment with the horizontally extending engaging member, the engaging member absorbing the thrust of the closing door upon the member on the door engaging the engaging member, then the member on the closing door pivoting the engaging member upwardly within the door jamb thus permitting the said door to quietly close, the said member on the inside of the door formed with an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface whereby the engaging member moves upwardly on the member on the inside of the door, the said engaging member being held upwardly at a sufficient angle above its substantially horizontal position by the member on the door when the door is closed so that said engaging member automatically returns to its said horizontal position upon the door being opened.

4. In combination a door stopper comprising a plate member secured within a door jamb, a pivot means carried by the plate, a bar pivotally mounted adjacent its inner end on the pivot means and adapted to extend laterally and slightly downwardly from the horizontal with respect to the door jamb and outwardly of said door jamb, a nylon thread carried in the outer end of the bar, a projection formed on the inner end of the bar for engaging a portion of the plate member when the bar projects slightly downwardly from the horizontal for maintaining the said bar projected slightly downwardly from the horizontal position with respect to said door jamb, and a member mounted on the inside of a door in alignment with the substantially horizontally extending bar, the bar absorbing the thrust of the closing door when the member on the door engages the bar, then the member on the closing door pivoting the bar upwardly within the door jamb thus permitting the said door to close quietly, the said member on the inside of the door formed with an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface whereby the bar moves upwardly on the member on the door, the nylon thread in the outer end of the bar aiding in urging the bar upwardly on the inclined surface of the member on the door, said bar being held upwardly at a sucient angle above its substantially horizontal position by the member on the door when the door is closed so that said bar automatically returns to its said horizontal position upon the door being opened.

5. In combination a door stopper comprising a plate member secured within a door jamb, a pivot means carried by the plate, a bar pivotally mounted adjacent its inner end on the pivot means and adapted to extend laterally and slightly downwardly from the horizontal with respect to the door jamb and outwardly of said door jamb, a projection formed on the inner end of the bar for engaging a portion of the plate member when the bar pro ects slightly downwardly from the horizontal for maintaning the said bar projected slightly downwardly from the horizontal position with respect to said door jamb, and a member mounted on the inside of a door in alignment with the substantially horizontally extending bar, the bar absorbing the thrust of the closing door when the member on the door engages the bar, then the member on the closing door pivoting the bar upwardly within the door jamb thus permitting the said door to close quietly, the member on the inside of the door formed with an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface whereby the bar moves upwardly on the member on the door, the said bar being held upwardly at a sufficient angle above its substantially horizontal position by the member on the door when the door is closed so that the bar automatically returns to its said horizontal position upon the door being opened.

6. In a door stop as set forth in claim 5 wherein a resilient elevated tongue is formed in the inclined surface of the member on the door for aiding in urging the bar upwardly on the inclined surface of the member on the door.

7. In a door stop as set forth in claim 5 wherein a resilient elevated depending tongue is formed in the inclined surface of the member on the door for aiding in urging the bar upwardly on the inclined surface of the member on the door.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

